Are you interested in opening a Froyo business and need to find the right machines for your budget and needs? Whether it is self serve frozen yogurt for a new outlet or a single countertop yogurt maker for your existing location, we can help you make the right decision.

So, you’ve decided to embrace your inner entrepreneur and start you own frozen yogurt business. You will no doubt find it to be a very cool way to make a living.

The first step, of course, to starting any new business is to create a business plan. This is the road map to your success and without a cohesive plan in place, many new start-up companies get lost.

In your business plan you will need to consider things such as licensing and permits, overall budget, your retail space and location, and of course, inventory and equipment. One of the main pieces of equipment your new business will require is a frozen yogurt machine. You will need to quickly decide whether you will rent a frozen yogurt machine, purchase a used one, or go with a brand new machine for your business.

If you are completely new to the frozen yogurt business and aren’t exactly sure which machine will suit all of your requirements, you may want to consider renting a unit as this is a great way to test a machine or two before investing in your own. Many rental companies offer servicing as well as training on the machine, which is another benefit of going this route.

Buying a used frozen yogurt machine is often a great way to get your hands on a solid unit for a fraction of the original purchase price. This is a great option for people who want to own their equipment outright but are on a tight budget. Here’s a tip when buying a used machine – look for frozen yogurt businesses that are going out of business and want to liquidate their inventory as quickly as possible. This scenario will generally get you the best price on a frozen yogurt machine.

And finally, you can purchase a completely new machine for your business. The price tag, of course, will be much steeper, but you will have peace of mind knowing you are the first and only owner as well as having a warranty for parts and labor, should any repairs be needed.

The best way to decide which option is right for your business is to sit down and work out a budget. Realistically how much can you afford to spend at this time? Once you have this figure you will know quickly if you will rent, purchase a used frozen yogurt machine, or buy a completely new model.

Need some guidance selecting the right machine for your business? Get in touch with us. We work with some of the top suppliers in the industry and can help you with all of your frozen yogurt needs.

Effective planning is a huge part of creating a successful business in any part of the country. We believe that effective planning will help you hit the ground running and will help you make your frozen yogurt business profitable in a short time.

Location, Location, Location!

Location is a huge part of creating a successful frozen yogurt business. Before selecting a location we encourage you to look at a number of locations and ask yourself.

Who are my target clients?

Will my business benefit from regular foot traffic?

Are there other established frozen yogurt shops or dessert places nearby?

Timing

Summer means peak sales for many frozen yogurt shops, which means spring and summer are peak times for distributors across all aspects of the frozen yogurt business. We encourage you to consider the supply chain you will be reliant upon if you are hoping to open a new shop before the summer. It is not unheard of for it to take up to 8 weeks for delivery of your frozen yogurt machines if you order them during peak times. No machines means no business, so making sure you have your timing down is extremely important.

Creativity

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you can copy a successful frozen yogurt shop in your area and that your shop will be just as successful. Part of the success of many local shops can be attributed to creativity. Consider original décor, featuring a crazy new flavor on Fridays (maple bacon maybe?) or something else to set your shop apart from the competition.

Personnel

Self-serve frozen yogurt shops require relatively few employees to operate compared to other retail or food service businesses. Many locations can efficiently operate with two or three individuals in the shop at peak times. However, personal interaction is still an important aspect of your business and making sure you hire pleasant, friendly individuals is an absolute necessity!

Frozen Yogurt Machines

A great location, wonderful employees and a creative spin won’t rescue your shop if you don’t have efficient, well working machines. If you’ve got questions about selecting the right frozen yogurt machines for your shop, we encourage you to check the rest of the site.

Ultimately, taking the time to plan the launch of your business will help you get your frozen yogurt shop off the ground quickly and in the most cost efficient manner possible!

Creating a successful business in any marketplace requires careful planning and budgeting. We understand that starting a new frozen yogurt business from the ground up can very intimidating. As a result we’ve put together a list of some of the expenses you should consider as you are planning the launch of your new business.

Rental Expenses – The expense associated with renting a space varies from city to city across the country and depends on the size and location of your frozen yogurt shop. We encourage you to do your research as you start to look for a location. Knowing the going rate for space in your area will help you ensure you get the best price per square foot for your frozen yogurt shop.

Equipment – When opening your yogurt shop you will need to purchase a number of pieces of equipment including:

a refrigerator case for toppings,

a cash register,

tables and chairs for your guests

However, the most important pieces of equipment you will purchase are your frozen yogurt machines. Without these machines, there is no frozen yogurt shop! The cost of one machine (which produces two flavors) can range widely based on brand from $6,500 to $18,000 each. Since the average shop purchases 4 to 6 of these machines, comparing prices and getting the best deal can be a huge cost saving measure. To get an up-to-date quote call the hotline: (888) 770-3933.

Energy – For the average frozen yogurt shop, energy expenses are a large part of the monthly operating budget. Because all frozen yogurt machines operate on electricity, your electrical bill for simply running the machines can be rather high. Expecting to spend around $800 a month for all of the energy needs of a shop is reasonable for an average sized shop.

Food – The cost of the yogurt mix and toppings is also something to consider when setting up your shop.

Yogurt Mix: The choice between liquid and powdered yogurt mixes can have a significant effect on the operating costs of your shop. You will want to consider availability of the mix types and storage needs while making your decision.

Toppings: Toppings can be a significant expense for a frozen yogurt shop. Seasonal fruits can be expensive and the cost of regularly purchasing chocolate can also add up.

Employees – Most shops need two or three employees to staff them at peak times, their hourly salaries and other employment costs will need to be factored into your monthly budget as well.

We hope that this list helps you start working on creating a budget for your new frozen yogurt shop!

Whether it is your first business or your fiftieth, starting your own frozen yogurt shop is very exciting. Even an experienced business owner can get caught up in the excitement and easily overlook some of the important things you should be considering as you are getting your business started.

To help you avoid missing an important item we have compiled a list of things to consider:

Timing – The spring and summer months are the peak season for frozen yogurt sales. If you are hoping to open your shop before or during the peak season be sure to factor in extra lead time to receive your machines from the manufacturer and to get on the distribution list for your yogurt mix provider.

Location – Location is a huge factor in the success or failure of a frozen yogurt shop. Be sure to pick a location that is easily accessible, has ample parking and isn’t located too close to a competing yogurt shop or dessert restaurant.

Shop Type – Decide whether or not your shop will be a self-service shop or a full-service shop. The difference boils down to whether the frozen yogurt is sold by the ounce and the customers make their own bowls or if the yogurt is sold by the bowl size and the employees work the machines from behind the counter.

Machine Type – You will need to research your location and decide whether you need single phase or three phase frozen yogurt machines. You will also want to decide if you will rent your machines or purchase them.

Mix Type – You will need to determine whether you will use a liquid or powdered yogurt mix in your shop. Liquid mixes require cold storage, whereas powdered can be stored on a shelf until it is mixed with a liquid of your choosing.

Employees – Your employees are the face of your business. You will need to decide if it is appropriate to work in your shop yourself, if you will hire friends or family members to work for you or if you will hire other employees.

Several these tips are covered in more detail in some of our other postings and we encourage you to take a look around or contact us for more information on the frozen yogurt machines you need for your new shop.

To GET MORE INFO on building a frozen yogurt business plan, read our latest post.

Frozen yogurt is the wave that is sweeping the World and bringing people everywhere a treat they can enjoy with family and friends.

Great for Busy Families

Most frozen yogurt shops are located in convenient shopping centers or strip malls allowing families to easily pop in and out while running other errands. The number of flavor choices in any given shop means there is sure to be a flavor to please even the pickiest of eaters!

A Fit for Health Conscious Individuals

Most frozen yogurts have less calories than their denser cousin, ice cream, making them a wonderful substitute. If calories from fat are a concern, you’ll be happy to learn that most frozen yogurts are fat free. Some frozen yogurts can be made with calorie free sweeteners, lowering the calories per ounce significantly.

Dairy Free Options?

Frozen yogurt can also be a wonderful dessert choice for individuals who cannot eat dairy as a result of an allergy. Some frozen yogurts mixes can actually be made omitting the dairy and turning them into a water based sorbet. Dairy Free options are also great for people who choose not to eat dairy for other personal reasons.

Customizable

Frozen yogurt is a great desert choice because it is fully customizable. Self-serve yogurt shops allow individuals to pick from a number of yogurt flavors and they are not limited to one or two choices per bowl. As long as the yogurt fits, it is fair game. Self-serve shops also allow the customer to select which toppings, if any, they would like on the yogurt. Talk about customization!

For many small business owners the decision to open a specific type of food service business can be difficult. We hope you will find these points helpful when considering whether or not a frozen yogurt shop is the right investment for you.

1. Individual Ownership v. Franchise – For many small business owners the question of whether or not to open a standalone shop or a franchise of a popular local or national chain can be a difficult decision. Both involve significant personal financial investment and have their benefits and pitfalls. The great thing is that you can open your own frozen yogurt shop or go with a franchise. The choice is yours.

Franchisees must comply with corporate requirements and must pay a portion of their earnings to the corporation and fixed advertising expenses. However, they are supported by a larger marketing budget and brand recognition that can help drive sales.

Individual owners do not have to answer to a corporation or comply with advertising, store design or product display requirements. They are free to choose the products they sell in their stores, they can design their own uniforms and determine the staffing levels necessary to successfully run their business.

2. Labor Requirements – Frozen yogurt shops are not labor intense operations. Most self-serve locations can handle high customer volume with three employees working at peak times. Furthermore, they do not require skilled labor. Almost anyone can clean a frozen yogurt machine and greet customers. Selecting the right employees often comes down to personality, not skill set, in a frozen yogurt shop.

3. Predictable Costs – The costs associated with owning your own frozen yogurt shop are pretty straightforward and predictable. Once the equipment has been purchased; monthly costs are essentially limited to energy expenses, yogurt mix, toppings, rent and employee salaries. A few months of operating and it is easy to predict what those costs will be on a monthly basis for your particular store.

While each business investment is a personal decision that involves a number of different factors. We think the limited labor needs, the predictable costs and the fact that there are both stand alone and franchise opportunities in the frozen yogurt market make opening a frozen yogurt shop a great business investment opportunity.

One of the benefits of owning a frozen yogurt shop is that with the purchase of just one frozen yogurt machine, the dessert possibilities are nearly endless!

If you purchase five to eight machines, you will be able to offer your clients 10 -16 flavor choices at any given time. Because each frozen yogurt machine will make two separate flavors and one swirled flavor, you will want to think about the flavors you put side by side in the machines.

With 8 frozen yogurt machines you will have 16 standalone flavors and 8 swirled flavors! We know that selecting the flavors you will feature can be a bit of a challenge, so we would like to make a couple of suggestions.

Keep a few traditional flavors in the rotation at all times. Some type of chocolate, vanilla and tart yogurt flavors should be available to your clients at all times. While some customers enjoy crazy flavors, there are always people who want a good traditional flavor that they can customize with fun toppings.

Seasonal flavors are always a great choice. Americans love to celebrate the seasons with the tastes and flavors we traditionally associate with that time of year. Some suggested seasonal flavors are:

Winter Flavors: Peppermint, gingerbread and eggnog

Spring Flavors: Strawberry, mint and orange

Summer Flavors: Blackberry, lemonade and watermelon

Fall Flavors: Pumpkin, spice and apple

A couple of creative flavors are always an option. Look to current food trends for inspiration on a crazy flavor or two. Bacon was a hip flavor in 2012, maple bacon frozen yogurt maybe?

Keep a couple of non-dairy choices available if possible. Food allergies are a very real part of a number of your client’s lives. If possible, keep a couple of non-dairy yogurt options available for your lactose sensitive clients or those who simply prefer to avoid dairy.

Toppings! Moving beyond the frozen yogurt machines and the different flavors, we encourage you to think carefully about the toppings you have available. A large part of the frozen yogurt experience is the addition of toppings! Choose your toppings deliberately so that you please your customers and avoid waste whenever possible. Fresh fruit, candies and chocolate are always a hit!

Talk with your customers and get a feel for what they want and what they are looking for. If you notice them appearing overwhelmed hand them a sample cup and offer them a try. People are coming to your shop to have an experience. Take that opportunity to show them what’s new and different.

The internal structure of a frozen yogurt machine generally follows the same basic structure of a refrigerator or freezer. Coils are cooled using different coolants to produce lower temperatures inside the machine. The liquid yogurt mix is cooled inside the machine to a temperature that turns it into a semi-solid dessert.

Electrical Systems in Frozen Yogurt Machines

Frozen yogurt machines are electric powered appliances. Manufactures make them with either single phase or three phase electrical systems. The type of machine you will need will depend on the electricity available at your rental location. The single phase systems are much more common and are compatible with most standard electrical systems in the US. Most yogurt shops choose to go with single phase machines because of the increased compatibility.

Required Cleaning and Maintenance

All pieces of machinery need some sort of cleaning and maintenance to keep them at peak performance. Frozen yogurt machines require both regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them running properly.

Cleaning – All frozen yogurt machines must be cleaned at regular intervals. While the manufacturer instructions and local health codes vary, we recommend cleaning each machine once a week and doing so on a rotating schedule so that you are only cleaning one or two of your machines each day. We encourage you to design a rotation schedule that works best for your business taking your local health requirements into account.

Maintenance – Regular maintenance is also an important part of keeping your frozen yogurt machines in working order. One cost consideration you should keep in mind is that some manufacturers allow owners to perform basic maintenance on their machines and others require a licensed technician to perform the work. Having to pay for a maintenance call every 3 months for 6 machines can get quite expensive.

Now that you know a little more about the basic of frozen yogurt machine design, electrical power and maintenance you should feel more confident in beginning your search for the best machines for your yogurt shop. Selecting the right machine is an important part of your business plan.

We believe that selecting the right type of frozen yogurt machine for your shop comes down to the 3 M’s: Machine Type, Mixes and Maintenance.

M#1: Machine Types

Generally speaking you have two machine choices when considering the right machine for your new business. The differences in type comes down to the refrigeration unit used in the machine. The refrigeration types available are air cooled and water cooled machines:

Air cooled machines are essentially “plug and play” machines. They can be operated nearly everywhere as long as they are connected to an adequate power source. Air cooled machines are suitable for a number of locations including self-service stores, standalone applications in convenience stores and temporary placement at shopping malls.

Water cooled machines can be cheaper to operate than air cooled machines but they require more permanent placement including the incorporation of a glycol system and access to both power and water.

M#2: Mix Types and Availability

The success of a frozen yogurt business hinges on a number of different factors but location, machine quality, operation costs and personnel will have little effect on the success of your business if your yogurt isn’t tasty! Frozen yogurt mix generally comes in either a liquid or powdered form and both have their advantages and disadvantages. Before you decide on a liquid vs. powdered yogurt mix we encourage you to consider the following things:

Taste

Customizability

Presence of active cultures

Availability

Storage

Shelf life

M#3: Maintenance

While the initial purchase price is an important part of your decision about which frozen yogurt machine to purchase, maintenance intervals and costs should also be taken into consideration.

For some machines the general maintenance duties can be performed by the shop owner and the parts can be easily ordered through the distributor. Certain manufacturers also make machines that can be easily serviced by a local commercial refrigeration company of your choice. Others require all maintenance and service to be performed by their licensed technicians.

This difference can result in a significant increase in the monthly operation costs of your machines. As a result, we believe it is important to consider the cost of maintenance and repairs in your decision to purchase new frozen yogurt machines.

We encourage you to keep the 3 M’s in mind while you are considering the different frozen yogurt machine manufacturers.